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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. current — happening now
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. dip — to sink
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. shower — to wash
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fine — all right
  17. deal — to handle
  18. current — of water
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. snap — to click
  22. shower — rain
  23. fine — high quality
  24. deal — an agreement

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com